Explore the services we currently offer at As You Are
One to One Play Therapy
Outdoor Play Therapy
Bushcraft Play Therapy
Filial Therapy (Parent-Child Play Therapy)
Schools and Outreach Services
Small Group Play Therapy
Therapy Dog
Please get in touch with any questions or for a free initial meeting.
Next Steps
Get in touch to chat or visit for a free no obligation initial meeting.
One-to-One
Play Therapy Sessions
At As You Are, we are delighted to be able to offer One-to-One Play Therapy in our very well equipped and uniquely spacious play therapy room. The room has been especially designed to allow flow from one area to the next, permitting children the space and creative freedom to process on their terms. The room feels safely contained and yet free with the high window ceilings reaching out into the nature beyond.
One-to-One Play Therapy provides children aged 4–13 (depending on need) with a safe, accepting, and confidential space where they can explore their thoughts, feelings, experiences, and relationships through the child’s natural language of play.
How it works
Play Therapy is a child-centred, non-directive therapeutic approach. Rather than expecting children to talk about difficult experiences, children are invited to express themselves through play if they wish, and creativity, movement, imagination, and symbolic communication. The therapist follows the child’s lead, trusting in their innate capacity for growth, healing, and self-discovery.
The Play Room and Toolkit
Sessions take place in our carefully prepared therapeutic playroom, where children have access to a wide range of resources chosen for their therapeutic value. These may include creative materials, paint, drawing and art resources, clay, sand tray, miniature figures, puppets, role play materials, sensory resources, movement activities, musical instruments, storytelling resources, natural materials, and other therapeutic toys.
How long and how often
Play Therapy sessions are typically 40 minutes in length and take place once a week, at the same time and in the same space. Consistency, predictability, and routine help create emotional safety and allow trust to develop within the therapeutic relationship. A minimum commitment of 15 sessions is usually recommended, although the length of therapy is determined by the individual needs of the child.
Meetings
Regular reviews are held with parents, carers, and where appropriate, schools or other professionals, ensuring that children’s needs remain at the centre of the process whilst maintaining the confidentiality of the therapeutic relationship. The progress is discussed rather than any process.
The Ending
Particular importance is placed on endings. A planned ending allows children the opportunity to reflect on their therapeutic journey, celebrate their achievements, process feelings about saying goodbye, and experience a healthy, supported transition. Good endings are an essential part of the therapeutic process and help children integrate the work they have undertaken. Indeed, many professionals state that endings; good or bad, have an unprecedented impact upon us in the future. Trust is built, or not, upon the types of endings we experience. It is very important we get this right especially in a therapeutic intervention.
Who For & Why
Play Therapy can support children experiencing a wide range of social, emotional, behavioural, developmental, and relational difficulties, including anxiety, low self-esteem, bereavement, family change, trauma, attachment difficulties, emotional regulation challenges, friendship difficulties, school-related concerns, and experiences that may be affecting their wellbeing.
Above all, Play Therapy at As You Are offers children a place where they can be accepted exactly as they are, explore their experiences safely, and develop the confidence, resilience, and emotional resources needed to thrive.
We look forward to welcoming you. Please get in touch to learn more or to visit to see our spaces.
Come to As You Are where you can be at one with yourself.
Outdoor Play Therapy
We are pleased to be in the fortunate position to be able to offer the rare and unique Outdoor Play Therapy for children and young people who may benefit from connecting with nature as part of their therapeutic journey.
Sessions take place in carefully risk-assessed outdoor environments where children can explore, create, move, and express themselves through play in ways that feel natural and meaningful to them. May include bug hunting, natural resources, messy play, schema focuses, sensory experiences and den making.
How It Works
The outdoor environment provides unique opportunities for emotional expression, self-discovery, confidence building, and resilience.
Natural spaces can help children feel calmer, less constrained, and more able to process difficult feelings and experiences. Children may engage with natural materials, creative activities, sensory exploration, imaginative play, movement, and nature-based experiences, all within a safe therapeutic relationship.
Outdoor Play Therapy can be particularly beneficial for children who find traditional indoor settings challenging, those who enjoy being active outdoors, or children who feel more comfortable expressing themselves through movement, creativity, and connection with nature. The therapeutic process remains child-centred and non-directive, allowing each child to work at their own pace and in their own way.
Depending upon individual needs, and risk assessments the therapist will assess whether this may be appropriate for each child or group.
Wind levels may prevent outdoor therapy due to safety considerations.
Get in touch to learn more or to visit our outdoor spaces.
Bushcraft Play Therapy
Uniquely at As You Are, we are thrilled to be able to offer Bushcraft Play Therapy which combines the principles of child-centred Play Therapy with nature-based and bushcraft activities to support emotional wellbeing, resilience, confidence, responsibility, and personal growth.
Drawing upon training in Bushcraft Play Therapy and Outdoor Therapeutic Practice, sessions offer opportunities for children to engage with the natural world through safe, age-appropriate activities within a therapeutic framework.
How it works
Activities may include den building, shelter construction, natural crafts, fire awareness, zip lining, tree climbing, pond dipping, hammocks, swings, tool use where appropriate, problem solving, sensory exploration, and working creatively with natural materials. These experiences provide opportunities for children to develop self-esteem, independence, emotional regulation, communication skills, and a sense of achievement.
Bushcraft Play Therapy recognises that many children learn, process, and express themselves through doing. The outdoor environment offers natural metaphors for challenges, growth, change, and resilience, supporting children to explore their experiences in a way that feels accessible and empowering. All activities are carefully risk-assessed and facilitated within a safe, supportive, and professionally regulated therapeutic relationship, ensuring that emotional wellbeing remains at the heart of the work.
Depending upon individual needs, and risk assessments the therapist will assess whether this may be appropriate for each child or group.
Wind levels may prevent outdoor therapy due to safety considerations.
Filial Therapy (Parent-Child Play Therapy)
We also offer Filial Therapy, sometimes known as Parent-Child Play Therapy at As You Are. Rather than the therapist working directly with the child alone, parents or carers are supported to develop therapeutic play skills which can be used during special play sessions with their child.
Filial Therapy is a therapeutic approach that strengthens the relationship between children and their parents or carers through the power of play.
How it works
In this approach, parents or carers work alongside the therapist to support their child and strengthen family relationships as a whole. Parents are respected as the experts on their children and are empowered to learn therapeutic play skills that can be used at home.
Filial Therapy helps build stronger attachments, improve communication, increase understanding, and enhance emotional wellbeing. Through coaching and support, parents learn how to engage in child-centred, non-directive play sessions using simple, low-cost everyday materials.
This approach can be beneficial for children experiencing emotional, behavioural, social, or attachment difficulties and can support infants and young children through to adolescents. By involving the family directly, Filial Therapy promotes lasting positive change and strengthens the parent-child relationship.
Through guidance, training, and ongoing support from a qualified therapist, parents learn how to create a safe, accepting, and nurturing environment where their child feels truly heard, understood, and valued. These dedicated play sessions can help children express emotions, build confidence, and work through difficulties within the security of an important family relationship.
Filial Therapy recognises that parents and carers are often the most significant people in a child’s life. By empowering adults with therapeutic skills, children can continue to benefit from support beyond the therapy room, helping to strengthen attachment, improve communication, and deepen understanding between family members.
Filial Therapy can be particularly helpful when children are experiencing emotional, behavioural, social, or family difficulties. It aims to build stronger relationships, increase confidence for both child and parent, and create positive, lasting changes that support the wellbeing of the whole family.
How Does Filial Therapy Work?
Filial Therapy typically begins with an initial consultation to explore the family’s needs and determine whether the approach is suitable. Parents or carers then attend a series of training sessions with the therapist, where they learn therapeutic play skills and gain an understanding of how to support their child through play.
Once these skills have been introduced, parents or carers begin holding special play sessions with their child, usually once a week. These sessions are often around 30 minutes long and take place at home using a small selection of carefully chosen toys and creative resources. The therapist provides ongoing support, reflection, and guidance throughout the process.
A Filial Therapy programme commonly consists of between 10 and 20 sessions, although this can vary depending on the needs of the child and family. Sessions with the therapist are usually held weekly and may involve a combination of parent training, review meetings, and discussion of the parent-child play sessions.
The aim is to equip parents and carers with therapeutic skills they can continue to use long after the programme has ended, helping to strengthen family relationships, improve communication, and support a child’s emotional wellbeing into the future.
Please get in touch to find out more or to book yourselves in.
Schools and Outreach Services - Bringing Therapeutic Support to Your Setting
As You Are offers outreach Play Therapy and therapeutic services to schools, educational settings, alternative provisions, health centres, and community organisations across Holmfirth, Honley, Slaithwaite, Huddersfield, Kirklees, Kirkburton, Penistone, Denby Dale, Barnsley, and surrounding areas.
Having worked within schools for many years, we understand the demands placed upon teaching staff, pastoral teams, SENDCOs, and school leaders.
How It Works
Our aim is to provide high-quality qualified therapeutic support that works alongside your existing provision, helping children and families whilst minimising additional workload for staff. With our provision, we hope to lessen it over the short and long term by addressing the issues that impact on everyday school life. As well as working with children and helping them develop their selves, we can also provide support within the classroom on recommendations that further foster empowerment for the children, thus lightening the staff load.
We come into your setting fully prepared to manage the therapeutic process from referral through to completion, allowing school staff to focus on their core roles.
We will advise which intervention below might be most effective during our initial referral assessments. This could then alter over the course of the therapeutic work.
One-to-One Play Therapy in Schools
One-to-One Play Therapy can be delivered within school where suitable facilities are available. Sessions follow the same child-centred, non-directive Play Therapy UK model offered within As You Are spaces.
To ensure children’s emotional safety, privacy, and autonomy, schools must be able to provide a suitable room that:
- Offers privacy and confidentiality.
Is free from interruptions during sessions. - Can remain consistently available throughout the therapeutic intervention.
- Provides sufficient space for therapeutic play resources and activities.
- Allows children to feel emotionally and physically safe.
Outdoor Play Therapy and Bushcraft Play Therapy
Many children benefit from engaging therapeutically with the natural environment. Outreach services can include Outdoor Play Therapy and Bushcraft Play Therapy where suitable outdoor spaces are available.
Sessions may include:
- Nature-based therapeutic play.
- Creative activities using natural materials.
- Hammocks.
- Den building and shelter creation.
- Bushcraft-inspired activities.
- Sensory exploration.
- Storytelling and imaginative play.
- Confidence and resilience-building
experiences. - Emotional regulation and wellbeing activities etc..
Outdoor therapeutic work is always carefully planned and individually risk assessed, with children’s emotional wellbeing remaining at the centre of the intervention.
Where outdoor Play Therapy is being considered, appropriate outdoor spaces must also be available and assessed for suitability, privacy, and safety.
All outdoor work is subject to individual risk-benefit assessment and consideration of confidentiality, safeguarding, and the therapeutic needs of the child.
Small Group Play Therapy and Wellbeing Groups
Alongside individual therapy, schools may benefit from therapeutic group provision.
Small Group Play Therapy can support children with similar emotional, social, or developmental needs and provides opportunities for connection, peer support, communication, and emotional growth.
Wellbeing group work can be delivered indoors or outdoors and may focus on:
- Emotional literacy.
- Self-esteem and confidence.
- Friendship skills.
- Anxiety management.
- Resilience building.
- Transition support.
- Nurture and belonging.
- Nature connection.
- Creative expression.
Groupwork can be tailored to meet the needs of individual schools and cohorts.
Flexible Outreach Provision
Outreach services can be arranged as:
- Half-day visits.
- Full-day visits.
- Weekly or termly provision.
- Short-term interventions.
- Ongoing long term therapeutic work.
Support can be provided across the full primary age range from early years to year six currently.
Working in Partnership with Families and Schools
As part of the service, we can:
- Liaise directly with parents and carers.
- Arrange and lead consultation meetings.
- Complete assessments and outcome measures.
- Conduct review meetings.
- Manage consent procedures.
- Prepare therapeutic resources.
- Set up and clear away equipment.
- Provide recommendations and feedback where appropriate.
- Produce end-of-therapy reports when requested.
The aim is to provide a streamlined service that supports children, families, and schools whilst reducing administrative pressures wherever possible.
Professional Standards
As a qualified Play Therapist registered with Play Therapy UK (PTUK), all work is delivered in accordance with professional ethical standards and best practice guidance.
This includes:
- Enhanced DBS Certificate registered with the Update Service.
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
- Regular clinical supervision.
- Ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
- Safeguarding training kept up to date.
- Risk-benefit assessment.
- Compliance with PTUK ethical principles and professional standards.
- Adherence to school safeguarding, health and safety, and site-specific procedures.
- ICO registration and compliance with data protection requirements.
Outreach or Visit As You Are
Therapeutic support can be delivered within your school or setting, or alternatively children, families, and groups may attend sessions at As You Are’s dedicated therapeutic spaces where appropriate.
This flexibility allows schools and families to access support in the way that best meets the needs of the child whilst maintaining the highest standards of therapeutic practice, emotional safety, and professional care.
We look forward to working with you.
Small Group Play Therapy
We are lucky to be able to offer Small Group Play Therapy for children who may benefit from therapeutic support alongside their peers at As You Are. Working in a carefully selected and supported group provides opportunities for children to develop social skills, communication, empathy, build confidence, strengthen relationships, and explore emotions within a safe and nurturing environment.
Small Group Play Therapy uses the therapeutic powers of play to help children express themselves, understand their feelings, and develop new ways of relating to others.
How it works
Through creative play, imaginative activities, storytelling, art, sand, movement, games, and group experiences, children are supported to explore challenges, celebrate strengths, and learn from one another.
Groups are planned and facilitated by a qualified Play Therapist and are structured to provide a balance of safety, consistency, and child-led exploration. Clear boundaries and group agreements help create an environment where children feel respected, valued, and able to participate at their own pace.
Small Group Play Therapy recognises that healing and growth can occur not only through the therapeutic relationship with the therapist, but also through positive interactions with peers. Children often discover that they are not alone in their experiences, developing a greater sense of belonging, connection, and understanding of themselves and others.
Small Group Play Therapy is most commonly delivered within school settings, where children of similar ages and presenting needs can be identified and supported together. Outside of school, it can be more challenging to form therapeutic groups due to the practicalities of matching children with similar experiences, developmental stages, and therapeutic goals. However, where appropriate groupings can be established, small group therapeutic work can offer valuable opportunities for connection, shared understanding, and peer support.
Alongside therapeutic groups, As You Are may also offer wellbeing groups and nature-based group experiences. These groups focus on promoting emotional wellbeing, confidence, resilience, social connection, and self-esteem through play, creativity, outdoor experiences, and therapeutic activities. Wellbeing groups can often be more accessible to organise within community settings and provide children with opportunities to develop skills, friendships, and a sense of belonging in a supportive and nurturing environment.
Please get in contact to discuss more or to visit for a free initial meeting.
Therapy Dog
Mr Curly Wurly, our resident standard poodle, has been a therapy dog for many years, and is almost retired due to his age of over 16 years old now. Despite this, he might be inclined to join us for a hello or a short time on his comfy bed if he is awake!
His temperament has always been impeccable and enjoys meeting new people, however, he understands that not all people are dog lovers and is just as happy to be away from therapy sessions.
Less worried
"Not bothered about gender social expectations now, getting more confidence and independence. Good connections and more fun, more lighthearted. Less worried.."
Parent, Kirklees
Loves coming to your therapy
"No crying this year like last year, none. Resilience much better now. More awareness and better socially. Even keel with no emotional states arisen. Loves coming to your therapy. Upset before and now nothing."
Teacher, Holme Valley
Reasons for referral:
